🙂
Linda had her breast cancer operation yesterday.
Chuck called last night.
They think they got all of it. Will know Tuesday.
She came home yesterday. So, it was an outpatient operation.
She will know if she has to take chemo Tuesday..
Two year old Hudson came through surgery fine and is home; now the hard work begins. Please remember a curly haired, blonde boy with hopeful blue eyes when God brings him to mind. Thanks.
My grandson, Micah, is looking at surgery next week for his nose injury. It was not broken, but the septum is so moved it must be put back in place. The day for the surgery was the day he was supposed to be coming with a friend and going to a winter festival with us. It will be his birthday. Pray for wisdom for all. This is not a surgery generally done on those under seventeen, but he needs to be able to breathe. He is looking at a week off school and three months off sports. He loves sports. His mother is dealing with a challenging pregnancy on top of this. Also, his dad will need a job with good insurance by the end of this school year.
I told you back in August about the listing agent of this house. I have known her for about 11 years. Her husband was diagnosed with a fast moving cancerous brain tumor. There is no treatment for it. You can prolong it but you can’t cure it. He has a medical background and chose not to fight. The are both very strong in their faith and have used this time to share their journey. He has reached the point where he is very weak and they are asking for limited visitors. She posted on FB yesterday that seeing all the Valentines merchandise made her sad because she may not have him. They have also been thankful that he was in good enough health they took one last family vacation to Disney World. Please remember them in your prayers. What they have shared with others during this time has been a testament to their faith in God and to each other. It has been a powerful story of what true love looks like.
Kim – Maybe she should have an early Valentines Day with him now. That would be sweet, but sad, too.
There was a movie on TV a few years back based on a true story of a town that decorated for Christmas a month or so early because a young girl who loved Christmas was not expected to live until then. It was very touching. (And the girl ended up living after all, beating the cancer, as I recall.)
A lot of hard things you all have shared on this thread the last couple days. Prayers for all.
Not sure if many saw what I posted early this morning on yesterday’s prayer thread (Karen, I know you did, and thank you for praying), but I’ll repost it here:
A hard week, and I’m struggling with insomnia and tearfulness in the night again…my daughter’s loss of her cat…my husband’s slow recovery from surgery earlier this month…and I lost a piano student this week.
This last month has been so hard, and I shouldn’t be surprised, but it’s all so very difficult at 3…4…5 in the morning.
And other times, too, but especially now.
Thank you for prayers, anyone who sees this.
My husband and I could really use prayers. We have both been struggling with depression lately. I have had seasonal affective disorder for many years now in the winter, but this last month has been harder than I ever remember it being.
Hubby has his first follow-up visit today after the surgery he had January 11. He’s been off work since January 5. Please pray for his recovery, and that he will not re-injure himself when he goes back to work (or while he tries to slowly resume ordinary tasks around home).
And if you could pray that my gloom will lift (and his), I would appreciate that, too. That student quitting was harder on me than I thought it would be, although I kept my composure well during her last lesson. She was delightful to work with the whole 14 months I had her, but her father, a very personable-seeming man (when he gets his way) was a manipulator and, ultimately, revenge-seeker, when I didn’t bend my policy to suit him.
My husband and friends say “good riddance” to someone like that, and that’s true, but his daughter was so sweet, a good player, loved to practice, liked her teacher, made great progress… After everything I invested in her, and the mutual joy we both had in the teacher-student relationship, it feels like a death to me, losing her as a student.
Just not what I needed this month (and not good for her, either, unless the new teacher they’ve found can help further nurture and facilitate the girl’s musical gift and her desire to use it).
Karen, I think they probably are. A while back he left a sticky note on the bathroom mirror that said “I love you”. A friend took it and had an artist make a silver bracelet for her it with his lettering from the sticky note. She shared it on FB. They have had very frank discussions of what she is to do after he has gone. While he was still capable he took care of everything financially so that she wouldn’t have any decisions to make. They discussed what decisions she would have to make and he told her his preferences. She has said they lie in bed long into the night talking so that nothing will ever not be said. As I told you, their journey has been an inspiration to all who know them.
Hubby will return to work half days on Monday, and at his next doctor appointment a week from today, they will discuss whether he can work full days after that. His recovery is behind schedule — no surprise there — but he will only be doing light duty next week, and the person he saw today thinks there is enough healing that he won’t tear things open at this point. (Depending, I’m sure, on doing a reasonable amount of activity, and not, of course, severely overdoing anything.)
6 Arrows – Here is something I wrote on Facebook a few days ago, with some further comment. . .
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8, NKJV)
I’d been finding myself beginning to be tormented by negative, scary thoughts (especially at night), & God brought this verse to my mind. Sometimes it’s okay to say, “I just can’t think about that anymore,” leave the situation in God’s hands, & turn our attention to nicer things.
Now, as one who battles depression at times myself, I know that it is not as simple as that sounds. Maybe God is doing a new thing in me to overcome it, making that verse more real to me, & making me more able to apply its teaching. (I have felt the dark cloud trying to descend upon me since the beginning of the year, & feel more emotional, more prone to cry – even happy tears – more often than usual, even when I’m not feeling depressed.) But when I find myself thinking of things that worry or disturb me, whether in my own life or things I’ve read in the news, I turn it over to God & tell myself, “I can’t think about this anymore. This is not mine to bear.” (Kind of like Scarlett O’Hara’s “I’ll think about it tomorrow,” but with faith in God to move in whatever the situation might be.)
I haven’t perfected doing this, but it is becoming more of a habit. And although I consider myself a pretty grateful person, I find myself thanking Jesus more often, often just for nothing in particular, but for everything in general. 🙂
This is offered as a testimony of my own experience, not as some kind of formula. God bless you & help you to overcome this battle.
Kim – Lee took over paying bills & such many years ago, & has gradually changed his/our methods of bill paying, & there are other financial matters I don’t know about. (I used to take care of all that, but he wanted to take it over to prove – to himself mostly, I think – that he was capable of keeping it all organized.) Unfortunately, his filing system is not in alphabetical order (but it makes sense to him), so I’d have a hard time if I had to take everything over all at once.
I’ve known for a while that I should learn what’s going on, & re-take-over the bill paying & such (not because he is incapable, but to take it off his shoulders), but it wasn’t until the last year, knowing that his prostate cancer is considered “advanced/advancing”, that we’ve realized we can’t put it off anymore.
Lee wants to set things up so that his eventual death will not leave me in the lurch, wondering what to do, what’s going on. That was also one of the reasons he wanted to get that bread route sold, so that I wouldn’t be stuck trying to sell it myself.
Karen (3:36), thank you for sharing that perspective. I studied Philippians with some friends a few years back, and we spent a lot of time on the verse you quoted. Such an important one to keep in mind, so thank you for that reminder.
I had a really awful feeling late last year that this year was going to be a difficult one. That is a lot of the reason I felt I needed to go largely offline — to avoid distraction and have my wits about me when the hard times come, to have made the most of my time with my family before anything happens to one or more of them to take them away.
Sounds morbid, but death is a part of life, and at the end (of theirs or mine), I don’t want to have regrets about things I could have changed.
But now I find myself thinking, Lord, why so many difficult things in a short time? Why are people I’ve known from childhood (for example, Jody and Carol, for whom I’ve requested prayer in the last month) getting whisked away either through death or serious illness? Why all the health issues in my immediate and extended family? Why is my normally compliant 11-year-old fighting schooling in the last couple months? Why did a man who praised me up and down for how I taught his daughter piano pull her from my studio when he disagreed with one aspect of my policy? And why did ALL of this happen in a span of hardly over a month?
I want to say I trust in God, but I don’t know that I really do when everything happens at once.
When will I get over self-centeredness and really become Christ-centered?
And thank you to all of you for your prayers. The day is ending better than it started. And I am looking forward to a workshop I’m attending tomorrow at my alma mater on music for special-needs learners.
Wandering Views 
🙂
Linda had her breast cancer operation yesterday.
Chuck called last night.
They think they got all of it. Will know Tuesday.
She came home yesterday. So, it was an outpatient operation.
She will know if she has to take chemo Tuesday..
LikeLiked by 9 people
Two year old Hudson came through surgery fine and is home; now the hard work begins. Please remember a curly haired, blonde boy with hopeful blue eyes when God brings him to mind. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 4 people
My grandson, Micah, is looking at surgery next week for his nose injury. It was not broken, but the septum is so moved it must be put back in place. The day for the surgery was the day he was supposed to be coming with a friend and going to a winter festival with us. It will be his birthday. Pray for wisdom for all. This is not a surgery generally done on those under seventeen, but he needs to be able to breathe. He is looking at a week off school and three months off sports. He loves sports. His mother is dealing with a challenging pregnancy on top of this. Also, his dad will need a job with good insurance by the end of this school year.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I told you back in August about the listing agent of this house. I have known her for about 11 years. Her husband was diagnosed with a fast moving cancerous brain tumor. There is no treatment for it. You can prolong it but you can’t cure it. He has a medical background and chose not to fight. The are both very strong in their faith and have used this time to share their journey. He has reached the point where he is very weak and they are asking for limited visitors. She posted on FB yesterday that seeing all the Valentines merchandise made her sad because she may not have him. They have also been thankful that he was in good enough health they took one last family vacation to Disney World. Please remember them in your prayers. What they have shared with others during this time has been a testament to their faith in God and to each other. It has been a powerful story of what true love looks like.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Kim – Maybe she should have an early Valentines Day with him now. That would be sweet, but sad, too.
There was a movie on TV a few years back based on a true story of a town that decorated for Christmas a month or so early because a young girl who loved Christmas was not expected to live until then. It was very touching. (And the girl ended up living after all, beating the cancer, as I recall.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of hard things you all have shared on this thread the last couple days. Prayers for all.
Not sure if many saw what I posted early this morning on yesterday’s prayer thread (Karen, I know you did, and thank you for praying), but I’ll repost it here:
My husband and I could really use prayers. We have both been struggling with depression lately. I have had seasonal affective disorder for many years now in the winter, but this last month has been harder than I ever remember it being.
Hubby has his first follow-up visit today after the surgery he had January 11. He’s been off work since January 5. Please pray for his recovery, and that he will not re-injure himself when he goes back to work (or while he tries to slowly resume ordinary tasks around home).
And if you could pray that my gloom will lift (and his), I would appreciate that, too. That student quitting was harder on me than I thought it would be, although I kept my composure well during her last lesson. She was delightful to work with the whole 14 months I had her, but her father, a very personable-seeming man (when he gets his way) was a manipulator and, ultimately, revenge-seeker, when I didn’t bend my policy to suit him.
My husband and friends say “good riddance” to someone like that, and that’s true, but his daughter was so sweet, a good player, loved to practice, liked her teacher, made great progress… After everything I invested in her, and the mutual joy we both had in the teacher-student relationship, it feels like a death to me, losing her as a student.
Just not what I needed this month (and not good for her, either, unless the new teacher they’ve found can help further nurture and facilitate the girl’s musical gift and her desire to use it).
LikeLiked by 5 people
Karen, I think they probably are. A while back he left a sticky note on the bathroom mirror that said “I love you”. A friend took it and had an artist make a silver bracelet for her it with his lettering from the sticky note. She shared it on FB. They have had very frank discussions of what she is to do after he has gone. While he was still capable he took care of everything financially so that she wouldn’t have any decisions to make. They discussed what decisions she would have to make and he told her his preferences. She has said they lie in bed long into the night talking so that nothing will ever not be said. As I told you, their journey has been an inspiration to all who know them.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Hubby will return to work half days on Monday, and at his next doctor appointment a week from today, they will discuss whether he can work full days after that. His recovery is behind schedule — no surprise there — but he will only be doing light duty next week, and the person he saw today thinks there is enough healing that he won’t tear things open at this point. (Depending, I’m sure, on doing a reasonable amount of activity, and not, of course, severely overdoing anything.)
LikeLiked by 4 people
6 Arrows – Here is something I wrote on Facebook a few days ago, with some further comment. . .
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8, NKJV)
I’d been finding myself beginning to be tormented by negative, scary thoughts (especially at night), & God brought this verse to my mind. Sometimes it’s okay to say, “I just can’t think about that anymore,” leave the situation in God’s hands, & turn our attention to nicer things.
Now, as one who battles depression at times myself, I know that it is not as simple as that sounds. Maybe God is doing a new thing in me to overcome it, making that verse more real to me, & making me more able to apply its teaching. (I have felt the dark cloud trying to descend upon me since the beginning of the year, & feel more emotional, more prone to cry – even happy tears – more often than usual, even when I’m not feeling depressed.) But when I find myself thinking of things that worry or disturb me, whether in my own life or things I’ve read in the news, I turn it over to God & tell myself, “I can’t think about this anymore. This is not mine to bear.” (Kind of like Scarlett O’Hara’s “I’ll think about it tomorrow,” but with faith in God to move in whatever the situation might be.)
I haven’t perfected doing this, but it is becoming more of a habit. And although I consider myself a pretty grateful person, I find myself thanking Jesus more often, often just for nothing in particular, but for everything in general. 🙂
This is offered as a testimony of my own experience, not as some kind of formula. God bless you & help you to overcome this battle.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Kim – Lee took over paying bills & such many years ago, & has gradually changed his/our methods of bill paying, & there are other financial matters I don’t know about. (I used to take care of all that, but he wanted to take it over to prove – to himself mostly, I think – that he was capable of keeping it all organized.) Unfortunately, his filing system is not in alphabetical order (but it makes sense to him), so I’d have a hard time if I had to take everything over all at once.
I’ve known for a while that I should learn what’s going on, & re-take-over the bill paying & such (not because he is incapable, but to take it off his shoulders), but it wasn’t until the last year, knowing that his prostate cancer is considered “advanced/advancing”, that we’ve realized we can’t put it off anymore.
Lee wants to set things up so that his eventual death will not leave me in the lurch, wondering what to do, what’s going on. That was also one of the reasons he wanted to get that bread route sold, so that I wouldn’t be stuck trying to sell it myself.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Karen (3:36), thank you for sharing that perspective. I studied Philippians with some friends a few years back, and we spent a lot of time on the verse you quoted. Such an important one to keep in mind, so thank you for that reminder.
I had a really awful feeling late last year that this year was going to be a difficult one. That is a lot of the reason I felt I needed to go largely offline — to avoid distraction and have my wits about me when the hard times come, to have made the most of my time with my family before anything happens to one or more of them to take them away.
Sounds morbid, but death is a part of life, and at the end (of theirs or mine), I don’t want to have regrets about things I could have changed.
But now I find myself thinking, Lord, why so many difficult things in a short time? Why are people I’ve known from childhood (for example, Jody and Carol, for whom I’ve requested prayer in the last month) getting whisked away either through death or serious illness? Why all the health issues in my immediate and extended family? Why is my normally compliant 11-year-old fighting schooling in the last couple months? Why did a man who praised me up and down for how I taught his daughter piano pull her from my studio when he disagreed with one aspect of my policy? And why did ALL of this happen in a span of hardly over a month?
I want to say I trust in God, but I don’t know that I really do when everything happens at once.
When will I get over self-centeredness and really become Christ-centered?
Thanks for listening.
LikeLiked by 4 people
‘Thanks for listening.”
That’s one of the reasons we’re here 6
(on a first name basis here 😉 )
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We made contact with a Social worker in Texas concerning two children. Older. God’s wisdom, we are available, He knows the hearts. Thanks.
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Thanks, Chas. That made me smile. 🙂
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6 Arrows, praying for you.
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I appreciate that, Cheryl.
And thank you to all of you for your prayers. The day is ending better than it started. And I am looking forward to a workshop I’m attending tomorrow at my alma mater on music for special-needs learners.
Have a nice weekend, everyone.
LikeLiked by 4 people